Wigan

Wigan's population grew in the decade to 2011. At the same time there were changes in marriage, religion and housing tenure.

The population reached nearly 320,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Wigan increased by 5.5%, from just over 301,000 to 318,000.

The addition of just over 16,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Wigan was home to, on average, 12 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Wigan

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Wigan increased by three years, from 37 to 40 years.

This industrial area had a slightly higher average age than the North West and became slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 11,000 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 8,000.

About 16% of people in Wigan are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Wigan by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Wigan

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Wigan, but at a slower rate than across the North West.

In Wigan, the proportion of single people increased from 28% in 2001 to 33% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 30% to 36%.

Across the North West, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 30% to 36%.

The proportion of married people in Wigan fell from 53% to 48%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Wigan

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 16% said they had no religion. An increase from 7.3% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Wigan.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the North West (from 10% to 20%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Wigan that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 260,000 in 2001 to about 250,000 in 2011 (from 87% to 78%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just under 17,000 to about 18,000. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 5.6% to 5.5%.

Just under 2,200 people (0.3%) said they were Muslim, up from just over 1,000 in 2001 (0.7%).

The population without a religion in Wigan increased by 8.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Wigan by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Wigan

The percentage of Wigan residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.2% to 6.7% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 20 (4.8%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 4.0% in 2001. The percentage of Wigan residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 89%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 7.0% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

In Wigan, the proportion of private renting increased from 5.4% in 2001 to 12% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 8.5% to 15%.

Across the North West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.5% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in Wigan fell from 20% to 19%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 72% to 68%.

Private renting in Wigan increased by 6.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Wigan, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Wigan

In 2011, 97% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. An increase from 99% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Wigan.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the North West (from 94% to 90%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Wigan from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 1,800 in 2001 to about 3,500 in 2011 (from 0.6% to 1.1%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 1,300 to about 2,800 (from 0.4% to 0.9%).

Just under 1,700 people (0.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just under 540 in 2001 (0.5%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Wigan decreased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Wigan by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Wigan residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 12% to 7.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (78%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 65% in 2001. The percentage of Wigan residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 15%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Wigan decreased by 4.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Wigan, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Wigan, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 9.0% to 11% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (29%) households had only one person, compared with 28% in 2001. The percentage of households in Wigan which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 41% to 35%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 7.9% in 2001 to 9.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Wigan increased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Wigan, the North West and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Wigan working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 10% to 7.9% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 40 (2.5%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.2% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 8.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Wigan decreased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Wigan, the North West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Wigan residents that were unemployed increased from 3.2% to 4.9% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 54%, while the percentage of Wigan residents that were self-employed increased from 6.2% to 7.4%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Wigan increased by 1.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Wigan, the North West and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Wigan residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.6% to 3.1% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 1 in 50 (1.7%) reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 2.4% in 2001 to 2.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Wigan remained close to 3.1%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Wigan by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Wigan with only adult children living with their parents remained close to 12% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (30%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 32% in 2001. The percentage of households in Wigan without children increased from 56% to 58%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (which remained close to 10%). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the North West

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

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